Can anyone identify the particular ship or at least class of the carrier at the following two pictures? Thanks! Sorry about the off topic post, kind of...

 

Tony

 

Image 1

 

Image 2

My guess is the USS Boxer (CV-21) (though it could just as possibly be the USS Valley Forge (CV-45), both Essex class). Here's what I have on Korean War carrier deployments:

 

Korean War US Carrier Deployments

 

Boxer (CV21) with CVG-2 (24/8/50 to 11/11/50)

 

Squadron Aircraft Tail Code

VF-23 F4U-4 M

VF-63 F4U-4 M

VF-64 F4U-4 M

VF-24 F4U-4 M

VA-65 AD-2 M

VC-3 Det F4U-5N NP

VC-11 Det A AD-3W ND

VC-33 Det AD-4N SS

VC-61 Det F4U-4P PP

HU-1 Det HO3S-1 UP

 

Boxer (CV21) with CVG-101 (2/3/51 to 24/10/51)

 

Squadron Aircraft Tail Code

VF-721 F9F-2B A

VF-791 F4U-4 A

VF-884 F4U-4 A

VA-702 AD-2/4Q A

VC-3 Det F F4U-5NL NP

VC-11 Det F AD-4W ND

VC-35 Det F AD-4N NR

VC-61 Det F F9F-2P PP

HU-1 Det HO3S-1 UP

 

Valley Forge (CV45) with CVG-5 (1/5/50 to 1/12/50)

 

Squadron Aircraft Tail Code

VF-51 F9F-3 S

VF-52 F9F-3 S

VF-53 F4U-4B S

VF-54 F4U-4B S

VF-55 AD-4/Q S

VC-3 Det C F4U-5N/AD-3N NP

VC-11 Det AD-3W ND

HedRon 1 Det F4U-5P AZ

HU-1 Det HO3S-1 UP

 

Bon Homme Richard (CV31) with CVG-102 (10/5/51 to 17/12/51)

Hmm, well after doing some research at the Naval Historical Center website, I'm convinced that its actually a Ticonderoga Class carrier, due to the shape of the bow and the fact that the photos show two 40mm mounts prominantly on the bow. The main reason the bow shape was changed on the Ticonderoga's was to allow the addition of additional 40 mm mounts.

 

Now then, Ticonderoga's were simply the second batch of Essex class carriers, and included the 3 ships already mentioned. There were 13 total constructed of the Ticonderago class. The Ticonderogas had lengthened bows to allow for the additional guns, as well as the shape change, the only real difference between them and the Essex Class Carriers.

 

As to which ship of the class it is...without seeing the pendant numbers, I have no way to tell.

 

The Naval Historical Center Homepage:

 

http://www.history.navy.mil/index.html

 

You'll be able to find additional photos there.